Adults and children have access to Tennessee mental health facilities and services, including the state’s crisis line: 1-855-CRISIS-1 (855-274-7471).¹ This eliminates the need for Tennessee residents to dial 911 or visit an emergency room.

In addition, the 2021 State of Mental Health in America report cited that Tennessee climbed eleven ranks to 28th place in responding to its population’s mental health needs. The annual ranking of all 50 states and the District of Columbia looks at data trends in several categories such as mental health and substance abuse disorder, suicidal thoughts, and access to care for both adults and adolescents.²

Despite access to Tennessee mental health services and the state’s improving its mental health response, the state remains one of fifty with higher-than-average concentrations of mental illness.

According to Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), between September 29 and October 11, 2021, 34.6% of individuals in Tennessee reported anxiety or depression symptoms, compared to 31.6% of adults in the United States.³ Furthermore, Mental Health America’s studies⁴ in 2021 demonstrate a higher prevalence of mental illness and lower rates of access to care for adults in Tennessee.

Seven factors comprise the adult ranking:

• Adults with any mental illness
• Adults with substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year
• Adults with severe thoughts of suicide
• Adults with any mental illness who are uninsured
• Adults with any mental illness who didn’t receive treatment
• Adults with any mental illness reporting unmet needs
• Adults with a disability who could not see a doctor due to costs

According to the World Health Population Review,⁵ Tennessee ranks number 5 out of the top 10 states with the highest rates of serious mental illness. Unfortunately, due to provider shortages, many people in need of mental health or substance use treatment cannot get it in a timely manner, especially in rural locations.

In addition, there is concern that due to increased demand during the pandemic, these provider shortages became even worse. However, the current shift toward telemedicine for mental health services may help to reduce some of the difficulties in finding professionals such as licensed therapists and psychologists.

Many health insurance plans cover treatment for mental health and drug abuse disorders. Any health plan that includes mental health and substance use services must match its insurance coverage with the plan’s physical health coverage, according to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.⁶ This means that both Tennessee mental health services and physical health services must have the same copays, deductibles, number of days spent in a hospital or treatment facility, prior authorization, prescription drug tiers, and maximum benefit restrictions.

Below are additional mental health statistics for Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations (TAMHO):⁷

• 40% of those in Tennessee who need mental health therapy and 20% of those who require substance abuse services receive it.
• In Tennessee, three individuals commit suicide, on average, each day.
• Every day, three Tennesseans die from an opioid overdose.
• The Tennessee legislature established the Behavioral Health Safety Net⁸ to provide psychiatric treatments to persons without insurance.
• Tennessee is the first state to establish a First Episode Psychosis Intervention (FEPI) program in a rural setting.

Athena Care has three Tennessee mental health centers: Nashville, Murfreesboro, and Hendersonville, and access to multiple telehealth options. In addition, we are in-network with most major insurance plans. Filling out our free and confidential online insurance verification form is the best method to determine your mental health insurance coverage details.

We are a one-stop-shop for Tennessee mental health services. Rather than seeing a psychiatrist who may send you to a therapist or another mental health professional to conduct your mental health assessments, Athena Care handles everything in-house and under one roof.

No matter the mental health condition(s) you’re facing, our qualified staff has years of experience and degrees and training in everything from evidence based therapy programs to medication management. They’re here to provide the care and guidance you seek.

Let our highly experienced, expert care coordinators handle the difficulties of contacting your insurance carrier for more information. After completing the form, a care coordinator will review your policy and thoroughly explain your options. Rest assured, all submitted or discussed information is kept private.

When selecting mental health treatment centers in Tennessee, the level of care required is of the utmost importance. Consider your specific treatment requirements as well as your own personal preferences.

Begin by making a list of the best Tennessee mental health facilities while keeping the following in mind:

• Specialties and treatment services offered
  • Ask about the therapist’s expertise and experience treating your specific symptoms or area(s) of concern.
  • Which Tennessee mental health facilities offer outpatient and inpatient treatment?
• Education, training, license, and years of experience that mental and behavioral treatment providers Tennessee has to offer
  • Trained psychotherapists can hold various titles depending on a mental health professional’s education and role. Most have a master’s or doctoral degree in psychology and have specialized psychological therapy training.⁹ Psychiatrists are medical professionals who specialize in mental health and can both prescribe drugs and conduct psychotherapy.
• Treatment methods and philosophies
• Insurance companies they work with
• Office hours
  • Athena Care health care clinics are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Pricing
• Session length

Sources

1. TN.gov. “Mental Health Month 2022: Overcoming Isolation and Finding Connection.” TN.Gov, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, 18 May 2022, www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/news/2022/5/18/mental-health-month-2022–overcoming-isolation-and-finding-connection.html
2. “National Ranking Highlights Tennessee’s Advancement in Serving Mental Health Needs of Citizens.” Tn.gov, 2021, https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/news/2020/11/13/national-ranking-highlights-tennessee-s-advancement-in-serving-mental-health-needs-of-citizens.html
3. “Mental Health in Tennessee.” Kaiser Family Foundation, 2022, https://www.kff.org/statedata/mental-health-and-substance-use-state-fact-sheets/tennessee/
4. Mental Health America. “Adult Data 2021.” Mental Health America, Mental Health America, Inc, www.mhanational.org/issues/2021/ranking-states#seven. Accessed 1 June 2022.
5. World Population Review. “Mental Health Statistics by State 2022.” World Population Review, World Population Review, worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/mental-health-statistics-by-state. Accessed 1 June 2022.
6. Tn.gov. “Let’s Talk About Mental Health and Insurance.” TN.Gov, Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, 18 May 2021, www.tn.gov/commerce/blog/2021/5/18/let-s-talk-about-mental-health-and-insurance.html.
7. “Behavioral Health in Tennessee.” Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations, TAMHO.org,  https://www.tamho.org/uploads/TAMHO%20-%20Behavioral%20Health%20in%20TN%20July%202018.pdf. Accessed 1 June 2022.
8. TN.gov. (n.d.). Help for the Uninsured: Behavioral Health Safety Net. Retrieved June 1, 2022, from https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/bhsn.html [1] Mayo Clinic. “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.” Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER), 2022, https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/about/pac-20384610